Speaking to Geo News, All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shehzad Awan said freight services had been suspended across the country and would remain halted until further notice.
He said the federal government had invited the transporters' alliance for talks on Monday in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
The alliance has formed a committee to represent transporters during negotiations with government officials. Awan said the strike would continue until the outcome of the talks was reviewed and a future course of action announced.
Earlier negotiations between transporters and government representatives at the Commissioner's Office failed to produce a breakthrough, he added.
The transporters are demanding a reduction in taxes on diesel and the restoration of fuel prices to their July 1, 2024 level.
They have also opposed the government's daily adjustment of diesel prices, calling for fuel rates to instead be revised fortnightly or monthly to provide greater predictability for transport operators.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) now publishes fuel prices daily, with rates calculated using a seven-day average of international benchmark prices. The government introduced the mechanism amid volatility in global oil markets linked to tensions in the Middle East.
The alliance has also demanded that withholding tax on cargo transporters be reduced from 7% to 2%, arguing that oil tanker operators are already subject to the lower rate.
Transporters have objected to customs enforcement measures under which vehicles carrying non-duty-paid goods can be confiscated.
They are also seeking a simpler procedure for obtaining heavy transport vehicle driving licences and a reduction in toll taxes.
Ministers' resignations demanded
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Awan said goods transport operations across the country were being suspended as part of the protest.
He accused the federal and provincial governments of failing to implement the alliance's charter of demands, insisting that the transporters' demands were constitutional and legitimate.
Awan said transporters were staging a peaceful protest by parking their vehicles rather than blocking roads, adding that the alliance did not want to cause inconvenience to the public.
He called for the resignation of Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, alleging that commitments made to transporters had not been honoured.
Awan claimed a single trailer could be paying up to Rs2.4 million in toll taxes, in addition to taxes imposed on petroleum products.
He accused the government of failing to take negotiations seriously and said a committee would represent the transporters in talks.
The transport leader said the strike would be called off once the government formally notified the talks.
